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It was a nice autumn night on Sodor, and James had just finished his day's work, and was walking back to the home the drivers had shared, ready to wash all the grime off and rest for the night.
Though, as the house came into view, an older brunet wearing glasses and a light blue sweater was walking out.
That's odd, James thought, glancing at his pocket watch, What was Edward doing out so late?
Usually he would be finishing up dinner, a nightly routine he'd swap off with Emily, Henry, and Gordon. (The rest of them had been banned from the kitchen for... various reasons.)
So what was he doing now?
Edward carried a red and blue blanket in his arms. It was a tad chilly out, maybe he was just taking a walk? Maybe he was going to visit someone? A partner, perhaps? The older driver seemed to be full of secrets, though James hoped that wouldn't be one.
Not because he's be jealous, of course. Edward deserves someone, and James would be happy for him. Even if he felt a twinge of jealousy, which he didn't.
James decided to follow him. What if he got hurt, after all?
Though maybe that would be a mistake, as he walked straight into the woods.
Great.
Edward, who was quite a ways ahead, was weaving through the trees, like he'd been down this path a multitude of times.
James, on the other hand, had all the grace of a newborn foal. Which is to say, none at all. He kept on getting hit with branches as he stumbled his way through the woods.
Eventually, he caught up with Edward, who had thankfully stopped in a clearing and was now setting down the blanket.
"Edward, what are you doing out here?" James asked, shaking some leaves out of his black hair.
"Oh, James, hello! There's a meteor shower tonight, actually, if you'd care to join," Edward patted the space besides him, urging the younger to sit.
James had never actually seen meteor showers before. He'd seen the occasional shooting star, of course, but never anything more.
He was out here already, and if he was being honest, he doesn't think he could manage his way back without Edward.
"Why not," James shrugged, taking the spot beside Edward, "I'm out here anyways, may as well grace you with my presence."
The sky was the same as it was every night. Maybe a bit brighter, without the light pollution and the moon to take away from the brightness of the stars, but more or less the same sky.
They sat in silence for a bit, staring at the glittering vastness. Though, when Edward said it would be a meteor shower, he thought it would be a lot more interesting than this.
"Is... This it?"
Edward laughed, "Of course not! You just have to learn to be patient." He layed back onto the blanket, "Might as well get comfortable."
James followed with a huff, though the twigs tangled in his jet black hair made their presence known. "Ugh, stupid twigs," he whined, trying his best to pick the twigs and leaves out.
"Oh, here I thought you chose to match with your engine again."
The younger rolled his eyes, remembering one of his many other instances of impatience. "Shut up," he punctuated with a playful elbowing.
The two fell into silence again, while James attempted to pick out constellations. He could see Orion's Belt, and the Big Dipper, but that was about it. "How do people even figure out constellations. They just look look like dots to me."
"Well, that's the point. It's like a big game of connect the dots. Like..." Edward paused for a moment, studying the sky, before pointing up, tracing the shape of the constellation as he talked "Ursa Major! Can you see how the Big Dipper makes up the bear's head? And how those stars make its legs and tail?"
James could... Kind of, "How did they decide it was a bear though? Could've just as well been a dog."
Edward just shrugged, "I'm not sure, must've just thought it looked most like a bear."
"How wouldn't you know, you're so old you probably named the thing!"
Edward rolled his eyes, "Rude, I'm only eight years older than you."
"More like eight thousand," retorted James.
There was a beat, before the both of them burst into laughter. James enjoyed Edward's almost melodious laugh, even if it was caused by him being so childish.
The laughter died down eventually, as Edward went on about, tracing the constellations, with James trying to follow along.
"And that one is-"
"I saw one!" James pointed to the now empty spot of sky, the meteor vanishing as soon as it appeared.
"Did you? What did you wish?"
"Hm?"
"You're supposed make a wish when you see a falling star. What did you wish?"
"Well, I can't tell you that. Then it definitely won't come true."
It was a stupid wish anyway, and James highly doubted it would be made.
But what if it was?
"Right, right, of course."
There was silence between them again.
"What would you wish?" James flipped the question onto Edward.
"Then my wish wouldn't come true."
"But there hasn't been any more stars, so what's your wish?"
"There's one," Edward pointed up right as it passed. "And I would like this wish to come true, thank you."
James just scoffed and rolled his eyes in reply.
Soon enough, the stars fell like embers off a fire. The two watched in awe as the meteors fell to the earth, lighting up the sky with every one that passed.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?"
James looked over to Edward, watching the stars dance in his eyes. He's always admired Edward, even if he didn't say it. James, himself, could be a bit egocentric and a drama queen, but Edward stayed calm throughout it all. Even when he complains to him about pulling goods, even when he constantly boasts about how splendid he is. Honestly, it's a wonder why Edward would willingly be around him.
"It is."
He watched a falling star twinkle in the other's blue eyes, like two sparkling sapphires. Lady, what he wouldn't give to look into those eyes forever.
James brushed his hand against Edward's own, causing the other to shift his gaze over from the sky.
"You know, you are, too."
Edward placed his hand over James', intertwining their fingers, and used his free hand to pluck a leaf out from the younger's hair.
"Of course I am," he smiled cockily, though his heart was pounding. Their faces were mere inches apart now, and part of James' mind was screaming, begging him to close that gap.
The other part, however, was reminding him he should not be feeling this way about Edward, his colleague and one of his closest friends.
But being out here with him, gazing at the stars. It was all so romantic. James would be lying if he said he hadn't thought about being with Edward. With his kind-hearted personality, and his reliability, always willing to help another driver, even if they wouldn't help in return. It was suprising that he didn't have someone already, at least no one James knew of.
He really hoped he didn't have anyone, because all he wanted to do right now was kiss him until the oxygen ran out of their lungs, then kiss him more.
"Edward?" A deep voice bellowed, "James?"
The two men shot up at Gordon's booming voice as a torch was shone onto them.
"There you two are!" said Henry, trailing behind Gordon. "We were starting to get worried!"
"We thought a ghost train had gotten you!" Percy piped up.
"I didn't, of course," Gordon stated, "But nonetheless, what were you doing? There are wild animals about!"
Edward just laughed, "I came out to watch the meteor shower, I thought I told you all?"
"Well, you didn't!" interjected Thomas, "And you took James with you, but not any of us?"
"To be clear, he did follow me out here."
"Why, exactly, was he following you?" Emily questioned.
"He was being suspicious!" replied James, "Who goes out into the middle of the woods at night with nothing but a blanket?"
"Anyway, would you like to join us? It's a perfect night to watch a meteor shower."
The other drivers sat down with them, and quickly got to chattering about their days, or about the stars and any wishes they made.
"Did you mean it?" James quietly asked while everyone else was engrossed in their own conversations, "When you said I was beautiful?"
Edward stiffened and adjusted his glasses, "Well, of course. I would imagine most people would think so. Does the "most splendid red engine driver on Sodor" not?"
James chuckled at Edward's imitation of him, "Of course I do." He set his hand over the brunet's, looking into his lovely sapphire eyes again.
"I think you're beautiful, too."
Edward didn't respond, just gave a soft smile and-
Kissed him.
It was a quick kiss, like a falling star lighting the sky, and far quicker than James would have liked. But Edward had kissed him! If James' face wasn't as red as his coat before, he was certain it was now.
James rested his head against Edward's shoulder as they watched the sparkling stars together. They would likely be relentlessly teased by the others later, but they didn't care.
Some wishes do come true, after all.